Okmulgee Rising!

A renaissance is underway in my hometown of Okmulgee, Oklahoma with new investment in the downtown area by individuals and public institutions (especially OSU Institute of Technology). I visited a few weeks ago during the ChiliFest and had the opportunity to tour some of the downtown buildings where renovations are either planned or underway. These buildings made up the familiar cityscape of my childhood and most had fallen into disrepair. Now, many are being restored for residential and business use. It’s an exciting time in Okmulgee as a core group of believers lead a huge shift in the community’s perception of itself. The word is spreading . . . Okmulgee’s rising!

Photos from building tour:

Commerce Buildling

Julie Roberds on the Bell Block

Future courtyard behind the Torbett Buildling

Julie exiting the Torbett Building

Julie and Frank Roberds inspecting the construction underway in the McBrayer Building

East side of the Commerce Building

Artist rendering a likeness of Will Sampson on the Council House lawn

Leah Jackson entering the Kennedy Building for a tour

Map of the Creek Nation circa 1898 in an upper story office of the Kennedy Building

Mr. Kennedy’s desk

A safe in the Kennedy Building

Office door in the Kennedy Building

View of the cupola on top of the Council House from the Kennedy Building

Jane Morgan finds the one key that still works on a derelict piano in the ballroom on the third floor of the Kennedy Building

Ron Drake gives his daughter a whirl in the ballroom of the Kennedy Building as his wife looks on

Staircase in the McCulloch Building

Seats in a room of the Masonic Lodge on the top floor of the McCulloch Building (damaged by fire)

Interior of the Orpheum Theatre

Marquee, Orpheum Theatre

Exterior, Orpheum Theatre